Nairobi Chapel Jubilee Scholarship Fund

John Inzoberi, from the Fuata Nyayo slums, has the kind of face that looks mature beyond his years. In 2005, he sat for his primary exams and got 344 marks out of 500. His mother could not afford to pay high school fees and asked him to re-sit the class and exams, and he attained 420 marks! John is now a Form One student at Upper Hill Boys School. He joined the school in February this year, several weeks after most of the boys, and he still managed to get an A- average for his end of term exams! At 17 years of age, he is 4 years older than most of his classmates in Form 1, but he is committed to his dream to be a medical doctor and there is no doubt, with the academic track record that he has, he will fulfill his dream.

Julia Wanjiku is the last born in a family of five, with a single-parent mother. After Julia completed primary school, she and her mother walked from place to place looking for help for her to get her into high school. When they finally walked into Chapel, they were directed to the Benevolence Desk. Julia received a full scholarship through the Jubilee Fund, and is now at Kaani Lions Secondary School. She too hopes to be a doctor when she completes school.

John and Julia are two of the 17 promising and hard working children that the Nairobi Chapel Jubilee Fund has taken on and committed to support through High School. The Fund was started as a response to the need of many children who walk into the church and our offices desperate for financial help to go through secondary school. Due to the disadvantaged circumstances, not all of them are ‘A’ material, at least not yet. However, being able to join high school has given all of them a new lease of life, with prospects of a brighter future at the horizon.

Once we take on children we are committed to supporting them through the 4 years of school. 17 children is a good number to start with, but the need is much bigger than the Fund can take on right now. Next year we hope to educate 100 more students, so we will be seeking to expand our support base and have more funds to go round. This commitment is huge. But so will be the impact in the communities and our country if we invest in the lives of these bright and eager students.

Most of these children have great leadership potential. Therefore besides the formal schooling we are developing a mentoring program, where we will help them form significant relationships with mature Christians. This will help the children grow in their walk with God, while at the same time bridging the social gap between their background and the level of education we are providing for them.

Pray for the 17 young students, that they will rise above their situation and excel. Pray also that they would step up to positions of leaderships in their schools, and also begin to make a difference in their communities. We also pray that the mentoring relationships would help them grow in their commitment to God.

This month’s preaching series – The Seven Claims of Christ

• I am the Bread of Life
  
• I am the Light of the World
  
• I am the the Good Shepherd
  
• I am the Way, the Truth and the Life
  Preachers: Pastors Gowi Odera, Janet Mutinda, David Githugu, and Rev. Steve Maina

Pastoral Care. Do you know of a member who has been bereaved recently, is in hospital, or has gone through trauma? Please, please call our office on 6752346/0725650737 or call Rose Muiu on 0722317961 to let us know. We want to care for our members well, but have no other way of knowing unless someone informs us. Once we know we do a great job at responding and being at their side . . . but only if someone let's us know first. So  if you have the news, take it upon yourself to alert us immediately.

Do you need someone to pray with you before, during or after the service? Look out for one the people wearing a bright red sash. These are our prayer counselors, and they will pray and talk with you.

Celebrate New Babies
A baby boy, Ngatha Samuel Lee born to Simon and Martha Lee
A baby girl, Xholani Ochoro born to Felix and Namada Ochoro

Pastor Oscar and Pastor Charles Nganga of Mamlaka Hill arrived safely in Sydney, Australia. Today they begin an intense week of ministry with Castle Hill Anglican Parish in Sydney. Commit him and the mission “Is the World Enough?” to the Lord in prayer daily (use the prayer card that we inserted in the bulletin last Sunday). Pray that the Lord would bring many people to faith in Australia during this week. Pray for their families during this time they are away, that the Lord would watch over them in every way.

Praise God for the 60 Sunday school teachers who gathered at Diguna last week for a teacher training retreat. Thank God for such a good attendance. The teachers were equipped with skills on how to do crafts, prepare lessons, especially on how to handle children with special needs. The facilitators were very well prepared.  Thank God for the people who sponsored the retreat. Thank God for the dedication of our Sunday school teachers. Pray that the Lord would continue to encourage them. 

Pray about the relocation in light of our numerical growth. Our 10am service is packed, Sunday school classes keep growing and even the crèches are full. We constantly have to shift tents around to meet needs that come up so often. Even parking is also becoming an issue of concern again. We praise God for the growth and we pray that more may continue to join us for our Sunday service. However, may our increasing needs of space and stability spur us to pray even more fervently about the relocation, that we will be able to do the fundraising and the constructions and move as planned, on September 2nd.   Pray about the few months that we still have on this property, that we will be able to manage the growth we are currently experiencing.  

Relocation: If you have questions regarding the Relocation, please come to the Relocation Tent, see any of the pastors or email us on twende@nairobichapel.org.

Men @Work on Site on 26th May: Guys lets all meet at the relocation site, at 9am. Come in gumboots, work gloves, pliers and any tool you find useful for building, and let’s put our muscles to work on the fence, koroga, foundations etc. You don’t want to miss!

Safari Sevens is Here: Once a year, the Impala Club hosts a big international event - the Safari Sevens. On June 10th we will be affected by this event. The fields are filled out with tents, the games start early, and cars spill out a long way in both directions. We have therefore chosen to hold our Sunday service on that day at 8 – 9:30 am! In case you have ever wondered what time God wakes up, come and discover that he's awake and vibrant in power even at 8 am on a Sunday morning. This will be a one hr family service with the 6 - 12 yr olds with us in the service.

Harvest School of Prayer: Join this 10-week class every Friday, beginning May 18th, 5:30-7:30 pm at the tent. Pst. Simon Mbevi of Mavuno Chapel has developed it. This class is causing a prayer revival in this city! We encourage as many people to join the upcoming class, as it will completely transform your personal prayer life as well as in the church. Please sign up at Info Desk. Cost is KShs. 2,500 to cover the training manual and refreshments. Sign up at the Info desk.

Tyranus Hall Classes: If you haven't signed up for any of these classes, kindly do so today at the Info Desk. All classes will take place in the Sunday School tents.
1.         Developing a Mind for Missions: Sundays, 8:00-9:30 am, from May 13th
2.         Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit: Sundays, 8:30-10 am, from May 13th
3.         Investigative Bible Study: Sundays, 8:00-9:30 am, from May 27th
4.         Mizizi (Foundations): Sundays, 8:00-9:30 am, from May 27th
5.         A Study Through Philippians:  Sundays, 8:00-9:30 am, from May 27th
6.         Leading Small groups: Saturdays, 9-10:30 am, from June 2nd
7.         Nairobi Chapel Membership Class: Sundays 8-10 am, from June 3rd
8.         Dating Class: Sundays, 8-9:30 am, begins June 3rd

Citizenship and Social Involvement: June 3rd 8:30-10am, facilitated by Njonjo Mue
Managing your Finances: June 3rd, 8:30-10am. Facilitated by Ben Mandi
Dating Classes: You seeing someone? Hoping to see someone? As in date?? You may have been asked this and it brings shivers down your spine…of trepidation or excitement. Come join us as we walk this potential ‘minefield’ of human relationships, and hear stories of victory and blessing from others. Sundays, from June 3rd,  8:30-10am

Wedding Banns: Johnson J. Wambugu and Kimberly Njoroge plan to wed on 1st June 2007, at St. Francis Karen. If you have any legal reason why this couple should not get married, kindly contact us.

The Lord is adding to our numbers daily, yet He calls us to become a close knit community, where each person is known, is cared for and cares for others. We will only do this if we connect in a small way. Ekklesia Groups are a great way to remain small while growing mega. If you are not yet in a group and live in any of the following areas, please call the leader in that area and join the group. More groups are coming up if you still do not find a niche in any of these.

For any enquiries regarding Ekklesia groups, please call Cathleen on 0722735705.